Movable barrier operator system and methods of installation and use

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for managing and controlling movable barrier operator systems are described herein. A method for controlling a movable barrier operator system comprises receiving a credential associated with a first user account from a first user device, storing the credential in a memory of the movable barrier operator system, communicating the credential and an identifier of the movable barrier operator system to a remote computer to register the movable barrier operator system with the remote computer, and configuring the movable barrier operator system to change a state of a movable barrier in response to the movable barrier operator system receiving a state change request from a second user device associated with a second user account, the state change request from the second user device including the credential or a derivative of the credential received from the first user device.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for controlling a movable barrier operator system, the method comprising:
 at the movable barrier operator system:
 receiving a credential associated with a first user account from a first user device; 
 storing the credential in a memory of the movable barrier operator system; 
 communicating, in response to receiving the credential from the first user device, the credential and an identifier of the movable barrier operator system to a remote computer to register the movable barrier operator system with the remote computer; and 
 configuring the movable barrier operator system to change a state of a movable barrier in response to the movable barrier operator system receiving a state change request from a second user device associated with a second user account, the state change request from the second user device including the credential or a derivative of the credential received from the first user device; 
 wherein the movable barrier operator system no longer responds to a state change request from the first user device upon a transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential from the first user account to the second user account. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the credential is from an application of the first user device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the credential from the first user device includes using a direct wireless communication between the first user device and the movable barrier operator system. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the credential and the identifier of the movable barrier operator system is communicated to the remote computer via a base station of a wide area network. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential is determined based on the movable barrier operator system receiving, from the second user device, the state change request that includes the credential or the derivative of the credential. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential is determined based on receiving, at the movable barrier operator system and from a remote server, a communication indicating the transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential from the first user account to the second user account. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at the movable barrier operator system:
 detecting, by the movable barrier operator system, connection to an alternating current power source; and 
 wherein communicating the credential and the identifier to the remote computer includes autonomously communicating the credential and the identifier from communication circuitry of the movable barrier operator system to a base station of a wide area wireless network upon the movable barrier operator system detecting the connection to the alternating current power source and the movable barrier operator system receiving the credential from the first user device. 
 
 
     
     
       8. A movable barrier operator system comprising:
 a motor configured to change a state of a movable barrier; 
 a memory storing an identifier of the movable barrier operator system; 
 communication circuitry operatively configured to receive a credential associated with a first user account from a first user device, the communication circuitry further configured to wirelessly communicate via a wireless network; and 
 processor circuitry operatively coupled to the motor, the memory, and the communication circuitry, the processor circuitry configured to:
 cause the communication circuitry to communicate the credential and the identifier of the movable barrier operator system to a remote computer via the wireless network; and 
 cause activation of the motor to change a state of the movable barrier in response to the communication circuitry receiving a state change request from a second user device associated with a second user account, the state change request from the second user device including the credential or a derivative of the credential received from the first user device; 
 wherein the movable barrier operator system no longer responds to a state change request from the first user device upon a transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential from the first user account to the second user account. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The movable barrier operator system of  claim 8 , wherein the credential is from an application of the first user device. 
     
     
       10. The movable barrier operator system of  claim 8 , wherein the communication circuitry is configured to receive the credential from the first user device via a direct wireless communication between the first user device and the communication circuitry. 
     
     
       11. The movable barrier operator system of  claim 8 , wherein the movable barrier operator system includes a movable barrier operator housing the motor, and a wall control unit that includes the communication circuitry, wherein the wall control unit is configured to be operatively connected to the movable barrier operator. 
     
     
       12. The movable barrier operator system of  claim 8 , wherein the transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential is determined based on the communication circuitry receiving from the second user device the state change request including the credential or the derivative of the credential. 
     
     
       13. The movable barrier operator system of  claim 8 , wherein the transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential is determined based on receiving a communication from the remote computer indicating the transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential from the first user account to the second user account. 
     
     
       14. The movable barrier operator system of  claim 8  further comprising a power input configured to be connected to an alternating current power source; and
 wherein the processor circuitry is configured to autonomously cause the communication circuitry to communicate the credential and the identifier to a base station of a wide area wireless network upon the power input detecting the alternating current power source and the communication circuitry receiving the credential from the first user device. 
 
     
     
       15. A movable barrier operator system kit comprising:
 a container; and 
 a movable barrier operator system in the container, the movable barrier operator system including:
 a motor to change a state of a movable barrier; 
 a memory storing an identifier of the movable barrier operator system, the memory further including instructions for connecting to a wide area wireless network; 
 communication circuitry configured to receive a credential from a first user device associated with a first user account, the communication circuitry further configured to communicate with a base station of the wide area wireless network; and 
 processor circuitry operatively coupled to the motor, the memory, and the communication circuitry; 
 the processor circuitry configured to: 
 use the instructions to effect wireless communication by the communication circuitry of the credential and the identifier of the movable barrier operator system to the base station of the wide area wireless network in response to the communication circuitry receiving the credential from the first user device; and 
 change a state of the movable barrier in response to the communication circuitry receiving a state change request associated with a second user account from a second user device, the state change request including the credential or a derivative of the credential received from the first user device; 
 
 wherein the movable barrier operator system no longer responds to a state change request from the first user device upon a transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential from the first user account to the second user account. 
 
     
     
       16. The movable barrier operator system kit of  claim 15 , wherein the movable barrier operator system includes:
 a movable barrier operator housing the motor; and 
 a wall control unit that includes the communication circuitry, wherein the wall control unit is configured to be operatively connected to the movable barrier operator. 
 
     
     
       17. The movable barrier operator system kit of  claim 15 , wherein the transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential is determined based on the communication circuitry receiving from the second user device the state change request including the credential or the derivative of the credential. 
     
     
       18. The movable barrier operator system kit of  claim 15 , wherein the transfer of the credential or the derivative of the credential is determined based on receiving a communication from a remote computer, the communication indicating the transfer of the credential from the first user account to the second user account. 
     
     
       19. The movable barrier operator system kit of  claim 15  further comprising a power input configured to be connected to an alternating current power source; and
 wherein the processor circuitry is configured to autonomously cause the communication circuitry to communicate the credential and the identifier to the base station of the wide area wireless network upon the power input detecting the alternating current power source and the communication circuitry receiving the credential from the first user device.